The Vampire's Court

Chapter 54-Of Love, Lies, and Thralls

By the time Dimitri returned to the room, having enlisted Withers' help to reset the study—and enduring an earful of reprimands the entire time—Seraphine was already fast asleep. He paused at the door, a satisfied smile curling his lips. The intense encounter they'd just shared had clearly taken its toll, and he couldn't help but feel a swell of pride. "That was all me," he thought, his ego puffing up at the idea that just his hands had been enough to send her straight to sleep. It was enough to make any man feel a certain kind of pride.

He undressed and quietly slipped into bed, careful not to disturb her. But as he settled in and looked at her peaceful face, something inside him stirred. He couldn't stop himself. With a soft, affectionate smile, he gently scooped her up, repositioning her so that she was nestled against him. Her body instinctively curled into his, fitting perfectly in his arms.

Dimitri held her tightly, the warmth of her body soothing the last of the tension from his earlier anger. The feeling of her, soft and close, filled him with a deep sense of contentment he hadn't felt in a long time. Within minutes, his eyes grew heavy, and he too fell into a peaceful, gentle sleep, holding Seraphine close as if she were the most precious thing in the world.

Because she was.

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The morning light filtered softly through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room as Seraphine stirred awake. Her body was snugly nestled against Dimitri's, her cheek resting on his bare chest, his strong arms wrapped protectively around her. For a moment, she lay there, taking in the steady rise and fall of his breathing, the gentle warmth of his skin against hers.

She blinked slowly, then looked up at him, her gaze sweeping over his face. Even in sleep, Dimitri looked impossibly handsome, his features softened by slumber. She couldn't help but admire his sharp jawline, his lips slightly parted, and those long, dark lashes that brushed against his cheeks—lashes that, to her quiet amusement, she was a little jealous of.

Her eyes drifted to his tattoos, those mesmerizing swirls of black ink that moved like smoke across his skin, a perfect reflection of the power and mystery that radiated from him. It was all so surreal—he was just so... perfect.

"Mine," she thought, her heart swelling. "My love, my husband... my mate." The word settled into her mind, more certain than ever. The bond between them was real, undeniable, and growing stronger with each passing moment.

Her mind wandered back to the night before, to the heat of their kiss, the intensity of their connection in the study. Her head was still spinning from it all, the way he had held her, kissed her, made her feel like she was the only thing in the world that mattered, the way his fingers... she shook her head, shuddering with pleasure of the memory. She never knew she could feel so... amazing.

Seraphine smiled to herself, her lips curving up as she tried to hold back a laugh at the sheer insanity of it all. It was so overwhelming, so impossibly perfect that she almost felt giddy. Everything about Dimitri—his touch, his presence, his very being—made her heart race in ways she'd never experienced before.

She bit her lip to keep from laughing out loud, feeling like an idiot for how happy she was. But she didn't care. Everything felt perfect, and she wanted to savor this moment as long as she could.

Her giddiness vanished in an instant as her knee shifted slightly and she felt... something. Something hard, warm... large.

"Oh?" Her brows furrowed, confused for a moment.

"OH." Realization hit her like a lightning bolt, and her entire face flushed a deep crimson. She awkwardly moved her leg back to where it had been, her heart racing in a completely different way now.